This accession consists of materials documenting the research and professional activities of conservation biologist Devra G. Kleiman, 1942-2010. Kleiman received her
undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago in 1964 and her doctorate from the University of London in 1969. In 1972, she became one of the first female scientists
at the National Zoological Park (NZP) where she was hired to manage the zoo's captive breeding program. In 1982, Kleiman became Acting Assistant Director for Animal Programs
in the Office of Animal Programs, assuming the position permanently the following year. During a series of reorganizations, Kleiman became the Assistant Director of Zoological
Research and Education in 1984; the Assistant Director of Research in 1985; and the Assistant Director of Zoological Research heading the Department of Zoological Research
in 1996. In 1997, Kleiman assumed the position of Senior Scientist. After her retirement in 2001, Kleiman served as Senior Scientist Emeritus at NZP, taught as an adjunct
professor at the University of Maryland at College Park, and owned a consulting company, Zoo-Logic, LLC. During her career, Kleiman helped establish the Associacao Mico-Leao-Dourado,
a Brazilian non-governmental association for the conservation of golden lion tamarins; served on many international committees, working groups, and task forces for species
conservation; and was affiliated with numerous non-profit conservation organizations. Much of Kleiman's research and activities focused on the reintroduction of golden lion
tamarins to the wild and the captive breeding of giant pandas. Particularly well-documented in this collection are Kleiman's research trips, especially to China; publicity
related to her research; and preparations for publishing two books, "Wild Mammals in Captivity: Principles and Techniques" (1996) and "Lion Tamarins: Biology and Conservation"
(2002). One folder documents a memorial fund set up after Kleiman's death. Materials include correspondence, memoranda, clippings, presentations, reports, meeting materials,
images, field books, notes, postcards, greeting cards, a scrapbook, a videotape, ephemera, awards, collected artistic drawings, and related materials. Some materials are in
electronic format.
